Foldable partition



July 19, 1960 E. R. HAWS 2,945,535

FOLDABLE PARTITION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1959 INVENTOR.

'R/VA-JT R. mqws United States Patent 2,945,535 FOLDABLE PARTITION Ernest R. Haws, 15722 Telegraph Road, Detroit, Mich.

Filed May 7, 1959, Ser. No. 811,758

20 Claims. Cl. 160-40) This invention relates to foldable partitions or room dividers and may be considered as an improvement over the arrangement shown in my copending application Serial No. 576,157, filed April 4, 1956.

It is frequently desirable to be able to temporarily partition large auditoriums and gymnasiums or the like into separate sections or rooms so that several groups of persons may utilize the auditorium or gymnasium to carry on varied activities without interference. For the accomplishment of this end, there have been proposed in the past various forms of partitions or room dividers comprising a plurality of panels suspended at their upper ends from a track and movable along the track from a collapsed or folded position into an extended position forming a wall across the space to be divided. With such room dividers, it is desirable in many instances to effectively seal from the standpoint of light and sound one of the partitioned spaces from the other.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved foldable partition which is so constructed as to be capble of providing an eflective seal against soundand light between the two partitioned spaces.

A further object of the invention resides in a partitioned structure provided with means for sealing the upper and lower ends of the partition against the ceiling structure and the floor structure, respectively. 1

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a partition structure comprising a plurality of panels movable along a track and a means for lowering the panels for effecting a seal both at the lower and upper edges of the panels.

More specifically, the foldable partition of this invention comprises a plurality of panels hinged together along their vertical side edges with every other panel swivelly supported at its upper end for rolling movement along a track extending longitudinally along the partition line between the two spaces to be divided. Each panel is provided with sealing strips along the upper and lower edges thereof. The track structure for the panels is supported so that it can be moved vertically to bring the sealing strip at the lower edge of the panel into sealing engagement with a floor surface and bring the sealing strip at the upper end of the panel into sealing engagement with a ceiling trim panel movable with the track structure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1.is a perspective view of a foldable partition of the present invention with the partition in the partially extended position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the partition structure and the supporting means therefor, the partition being in the elevated position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the disposition of the various parts with the partition sealed at its upper and lower edges.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view generally illustrating the supporting structure for the partition. 7 Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a series of partitions lb which are hinged together ,along their vertical side edges 12 by means of concealed hinges which permit folding the partitions from the extended position shown at the left of Fig. 1 to the collapsed position shown at the right of Fig. 1. At their upper ends, every other partition is provided at the center thereof with a trolley 14 mounted for movement in a longitudinally extending track 16 as is shown in Fig. 4. Track 16 is supported from the structural members 18 of the building by means of a plurality of support bracket assemblies 20. The number of support bracket assemblies 20 may vary as desired in accordance with the size and weight of the partition. 'In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4, the spacing between successive support bracket assemblies 20 would corre spond to the width of two panels 10.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen' that each support bracket assembly 20 includes a pair of threaded rods 22 secured to the structural angles 18 for vertical adjustment by nuts 24, 26. A pair of longitudinally extending wood panels 28 are secured one along each side of the track structure by means of angle brackets 30 through which the rods 22 extend and which are adjust,- ably fixed thereon by means of nuts 32, 34, 36. At the lower ends of rods 22, nuts 38 are provided against which the lower ends of coil compression springs 40 abut. Springs 40 surround the rods 22 and at their upper ends, support a hanger assembly 42.

Each hanger assembly 42 comprises a pair of spaced apart, generally Z-shaped straps 44 having outwardly turned flanges 46 at the upper end thereof and inwardly turned flanges 48 at the lower end thereof. At their upper ends, straps 44 are reinforced by a transverse strap 50 and about midway between the upper and lower ends of straps 44, they are reinforced by a strap 52. Straps 44 are spaced apart to accommodate therebetween the channel-shaped track 16. Track 16 is supported on the inwardly turned flanges 48 of the'Z-shaped straps 44 and the outwardly turned flanges 46 of these straps are supported'upon the upper ends of springs 40. Lower trim panels 54 are supported one along each side of the track structure by brackets 56. Trim panels 54 are vertically disposed and arranged between the upper panels 28. The lower end of the support structure described isclosed by a pair of ceiling trim strips 56 which are rabbeted as at 58 to receive the lower edges of trim panels 54and which are mounted on the Z-shaped straps 44 by means of angles 60.

Each panel 10 is provided at the lower end thereof with a channel member 62 for retaining a molded rubber floor seal 64. The upper edge of each panel 10 is likewise provided with a channel member 66 for retaining a molded rubber ceiling seal 68. It will be observed that seals 64and 68 project outwardly beyond the respective upper and lower edges of the panels. The outer faces of the panels along their upper and lower edges are provided with thin decorative straps 70, 72 which overlap and conceal the channel members 62, 66. Steel angle rub rails 74 are mounted on the lower faces of trim strips 56 so as to conceal the upper edges of the panel with respect to the trim strips 56. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the rub rails 74 terminate'short of the wall 76 against which the panels are adapted to nest in folded condition so as to permit a swinging movement of the panels from the extended to the nested position.

Each trolley structure 14 comprises a carriage member 78 on which are journalled four trolley wheels 80, two at each end of carriage 78. These trolley wheels are adapted to engage the channel shaped track 16 with its inturned edges 82 in the conventional manner. Each carriage 78 swivelly supports a stud'84 which extends through the upper channel member 66. At its lower end, each stud 84 has an enlarged head 86 engaging the underside of channel member 66 and received withinacylin.

3 drical socket 88 formed in the upper edge of the panel. Socket 88 has a vertical extent greater than the thickness of head 86 as illustrated.

For bringing the seals 64, 68 into sealing engagement with their respective ceiling surfaces, there are provided a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 90. Cylinders 99 are vertically disposed and have their upper ends rigidly mounted on the structural angles 18. Cylinders 9t)v are preferably spaced along the angles 18 so that with the door in the fully extended position, one cylinder 96) will be disposed above generally the center of each panel suspended from the track 16 by means of the trolley assembly 14. Thus, cylinders 90 are located intermediate the support bracket assemblies 20.

Within each cylinder, there is arranged a piston 92 having a piston rod 94 projecting downwardly and outwardly of the lower end of the cylinder. The free end of piston rod 94 is adapted to contact a pad 96 secured to the top wall of the track 16 below each piston rod 94. Hydraulic fluid under pressure is adapted to be supplied to the upper end of each cylinder 90 when desired from a source of hydraulic pressure fluid through conduits 98.

Pressure fluid is applied to cylinders 90 only when it is desired to bring the panels into sealing engagement with the floor surface 100 and the ceiling trim strips 56. When the panels are in the nested position or when they are being extended, cylinders 90 are relieved of hydraulic pressure fluid and the panels as well as the whole track structure are vertically supported by springs 40.

It will be observed that the whole track structure is supported by the Z-shaped straps 44 which rest upon the upper ends of spring 40 and which are guided for vertical movement by means of rods 22 which extend through the outwardly extending flanges 46 of straps 44. In this condition of the panels, the floor seal 64 is spaced from the floor surface 100 by the clearance space 102. Every other panel 10 is supported from its respective trolley by the head 86 of the swivel stud 34. Thus, the ceiling seal strip 68 is spaced from the left lower faces of the trim strips 56 a slight amount as indicated at 104.

When the partition is fully extended, the pressure source may be energized to conduct hydraulic fluid under pressure to the upper ends of cylinders 90. The pressure of this fluid acting on the top sides of pistons 92 force the pistons downwardly in the cylinders so that the free ends of the piston rods 94 are brought to bear with pressure against the pads $6 on track 16. When the pressure in cylinders 94 overcomes the tension in springs 40, springs 40 begin to compress and the Whole track structure moves downwardly on rods 22.

The downward movement of the panels 10 is momentarily arrested when the floor seals 64 along the lower edges of each panel contact the floor surface 100. However, the track structure including the trim strips 56 and the trim panels 54 continue to move downwardly by reason of the clearance at 104 between the upper seal 68 and the trim strips 56. This further increment of movement of the whole track structure is permitted by reason of the cylindrical sockets 88 in which the head 86 of the swivel studs 84 are located. As the trim strips 56 contact the upper seals 68 of each panel and the application of pressure is continued, both seals 64, 68 on each panel are compressed against the floor surface 100 and the trim strips 56, respectively, to provide an effective seal at both the upper and lower ends of each panel.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a foldable partition arrangement which incorporates a unique, yet relatively simple, means for sealing both the upper and lower edges of the foldable panels. The provision of the threaded rods 22 in combination with the springs 40 permit any initial adjustment that is necessary. The sealing arrangement herein provided in no way detracts from or mars the appearance of the foldable panels or the ceiling structure of the building. The trim panels 54 are arranged to extend downwardly through a narrow slot 106 in the ceiling 108 of the room. When cylinders are relieved of fluid under pressure, the trim panels 104 are retracted upwardly through slot 106 by springs 40; and when pressure fluid is applied to the cylinders 90 t0 eflect the described seals, the trim panels 54 together with the associated structure merely move downwardly through the slot 106 in the ceiling. Therefore, the trim panels 54 and the trim strips 56 do not produce an unsightly appearance and at the same time fully enclose the entire track structure.

I claim:

1. In a movable partition structure for dividing a room or the like into two sections scaled from one another, the combination comprising an overhead support, a vertically movable track structure supported from said overhead support, a panel, means supporting the panel for movement longitudinally of the track structure and for limited vertical movement relative to the track structure, sealing means at the lower edge of the panel, sealing means interposed between the upper edge of the panel and the track structure, there being a vertical clearance space between the track structure and the upper edge of the panel which normally permits movement of the panel longitudinally along the track without interference from said last mentioned sealing means, and means for moving the track structure downwardly and effective to shift the panel downwardly to bring the sealing means at the lower edge of the panel into sealing engagement with a floor surface and to shift the track structuredownwardly relative to the upper edge of the panel to render the second mentioned sealing means operative.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means are hydraulically actuated.

3. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein said hydraulically actuated means comprise a piston-cylinder assembly.

4. The combination called for in claim 3 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly is arranged between said track structure and said overhead support.

5. The combination called for in claim 4 including means normally biasing the track structure vertically upwardly.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein said biasing means comprise a plurality of compression springs.

7. In a movable partition structure for dividing a room area into two sections sealed from one another, the combination comprising an overhead support, a plurality of vertically extending support members depending from said overhead support, a horizontally disposed track, a plurality of hangers engaging said track and mounted on said vertically extending support members for vertical movement thereon, a partition member, means supporting said partition member from said track for movement longitudinally along the track, said last mentioned means permitting limited relative vertical movement between the partition member and the track, means forming a trim surface connected to the track for vertical movement therewith, a floor seal secured to the lower end of the partition member, a top seal interposed between said trim surface and the upper edge of the door, means bias ing said hangers vertically upwardly on said support members and means arranged to bear downwardly on the track to overcome the bias of said biasing means whereby to shift the track and the partition member downwardly to effect a seal between the lower edge of the panel and a floor surface and between the upper edge of the panel and said trim surface.

8. The combination called for in claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a plurality of compression springs.

9. The combination called for in claim 7 wherein said last mentioned means includes a pressure-actuated pistoncylinder assembly.

10. The combination called 'forin claim 9 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly has its axis extending vertically and is arranged to hear at one end against said overhead support and at its opposite end against said track.

11. The combination called for in claim whereinmeans and said trim surface forming an enclosure for said track and the supporting means therefor.

13. In a movable partition structure for dividing a room area into two sections sealed from one another, the combination comprising an overhead support, a track, a plurality of hangers for supporting said tracks from said overhead support for relative vertical movement with respect to the overhead support, means associated with said overhead support and with said track for normally biasing the track vertically upwardly relative to the overhead support, a vertically disposed partition member, means suspending said partition member from said track for movement longitudinally of the track, said suspension means permitting a limited amount of relative vertical movement between the track and the partition member, means forming a sealing surface movable with the track and disposed above the upper edge of said partition member, a sealing member disposed between the upper edge of the door and said last mentioned sealing surface, and means for shifting the track downwardly to overcome the biasing eifect of said vertically yieldable means whereby to engage the lower edge of the door with a floor surface and to effect a seal between said sealing member and surface.

14. The combination called for in claim 13 including a sealing member adjacent the lower edge of the partition member.

15. The combination called for in claim 13 wherein said means biasing the track upwardly relative to said overhead support comprises a plurality of compression springs.

16. The combination called for in claim 15 including a plurality of rods depending vertically from said overhead support, said compression springs acting vertically between the lower ends of said rods and said hangers.

17. The combination called for in claim 16 wherein 6 said room area is provided with a ceiling surface having a longitudinally extending slot therein, said track being disposed in said slot and movable vertically therein, said first mentioned sealing member being disposed in a plane below and adjacent said ceiling surface.

18. In a movable partition structure for dividing a room into two sections sealed from one another, the combination comprising an overhead support, a plurality of vertical supports depending from said overhead support, a horizontally disposed track, a plurality of hangers engaged with said track and mounted on said vertically extending supports for vertical movement thereon, a plurality of springs biasing said hangers and said track upwardly on said vertical supports, a trolley movable longitudinally in said track, a partition member suspended from said trolley for movement longitudinally of the track and for limited movement in a direction vertically of the track, means mounted for movement with the track and forming a sealing surface between the track and the upper edge of said partition member, sealing members at the upper and lower edges of the partition member, and means for overcoming the bias of said compression springs for shifting the track vertically downwardly to elfect a seal between the sealing member at the upper edge of the door and said sealing surface and between the sealing member at the lower edge of the partition and the floor surface.

19. The combination called for in claim 18 wherein said room is provided with a ceiling spaced below said overhead supports, said ceiling having a longitudinal slot therein for accommodating said track, said sealing surface mounted to move with said track being disposed below and adjacent said ceiling.

20. The combination called for in claim 19 wherein said sealing surface comprises a pair of horizontally disposed, longitudinally extending trim strips adhered to said track and concealing the lower side of the track from view and including a pair of longitudinally extending trim panels extending from said trim strips upwardly through said slot, said trim panels cooperating with said trim strips to shield the track and the supporting structure therefor from view.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,893,147 Oberdofer et a1. 'Jan. 3, 1933 2,151,033 Jones Mar. 21, 1939 2,827,957 Haws Mar. 25, 1958 

